Brown Sugar Bourbon Steak Bites

updated Apr 14, 2021
Snapshot Cooking
brown sugar bourbon steak bites cooking in a cast iron skillet
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

Seared steak bites glazed with sweet brown sugar and bourbon.

Serves4

Prep5 minutes

Cook7 minutes to 9 minutes

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close up of brown sugar bourbon steak bites cooking in a cast iron skillet
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

Boozy brown sugar bourbon steak bites are the dinner you didn’t know you were missing. In this fast and fancy recipe, cubes of marbled New York strip steak are seared in a hot skillet, then finished with sweet brown sugar and a drizzle of bourbon. Most of the alcohol will bubble away, leaving the steak to soak up the sweet oak and molasses flavors. For a finishing touch, sprinkle on chopped fresh parsley before serving.

Glazing Is the Easiest Way to Sauce a Steak

The secret to incredible restaurant-style steak? The sauce! But instead of doing the extra work of simmering a pan sauce after searing the steak, let the meat soak up the sweet and smoky flavors. Here, we’re using a splash of bourbon mixed with brown sugar to loosen the flavorful brown bits from the pan and infuse and glaze the steak bites with the woodsy and caramel flavors.

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Anna Stockwell

Brown Sugar Bourbon Steak Bites

Seared steak bites glazed with sweet brown sugar and bourbon.

Prep time 5 minutes

Cook time 7 minutes to 9 minutes

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons

    packed light brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons

    bourbon

  • 1/4 cup

    fresh parsley leaves

  • 2 pounds

    (1 to 1 1/2-inch thick) New York strip steaks

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons

    olive oil

Instructions

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  1. Whisk 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar and 2 tablespoons bourbon together in a small bowl. Coarsely chop until you have 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves. Cut 2 pounds New York strip steak into 1-inch cubes, then season them with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.

  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the steak cubes and sear until browned, flipping them halfway through, 6 to 8 minutes total. Add the brown sugar and bourbon mixture and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat and garnish with the parsley.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days.